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Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Increasing Tree tomato production in Ol-Moran Ward

Bob Aston

The first Tree Tomato Value Chain
Workshop taking place at Sipili Catholic Church Hall, in Ol-Moran Ward,
Laikipia West Sub County got underway on September 23, 2015. More than 70
farmers drawn from Ol-Moran Ward have come together to discuss and share best
practices on how to enhance farmers production skills on Tree Tomato.

The farmers seek to address various
interventions in Tree Tomato Value Chain that include crop risk mitigation,
post-harvest handling, local value addition, linkages to markets, aggregation,
and value chain linkages.

Farmers being trained on Agribusiness during the workshop

Apart from enhancing farmer’s
production skills on tree tomato value chain, the farmers are also sharing
ideas on its production and marketing experiences.

They are also learning about
systematic record keeping. The farmers aim to catalyze the formation of tree
tomato value chain business group in Ol-Moran Ward at the end of the workshop.

Speaking during the workshop, Mr.
Gachara Gikungu from Kilimo Biashara Promoters noted that despite the high
number of farmers in the Country, very few are practicing Agribusiness.

“Most of us are poor because we do
not know. We should realize that wealth is a function of quality goods and services
hence as farmers you should ensure that you produce quality farm products,”
said Mr. Gachara.

He
urged farmers to change their perception and learn that they can
be economically empowered through agriculture. He noted that the problem with most
farmers is that they do not want to accept new farming methods and
requirements.

“You will have a miserable life if
you do not follow proper planting methods’’ said Gachara. Adding that there is
money in agriculture but people do not realize that.

He noted that soil is a life hence
farmers should take good care of their soil.He said that achieving and maintaining appropriate levels of soil
fertility, especially plant nutrient availability, is of paramount importance
if agricultural land is to remain capable of sustaining crop production at an
acceptable level.

Farmers being shown how SOKO+ SMS service works

“We must preserve and protect our
soil. Most of us are abusing our soil by using fertilizer without knowing the
quantity required in their soil. We need
to reduce wastage of fertilizer,” said Mr. Gachara.

ALIN is keen in promoting the value
chain approach as this can promote inclusive economic growth as it allows the
identification of specific advantage points along a chain, reducing the average
cost per unit by increasing the number of units produced.

The first day of the workshop
provided the farmers with an opportunity to learn about agribusiness,
marketing, SOKO+ sms service, tree tomato production, and
soil management.

On SOKO+ sms service, the farmers
learned that the knowledge exchange and market access solution enables traders,
farmers and other users to buy, sell, and get information using SMS.

The fast growing tree tomato or
“matunda ya damu” in Kiswahili are resistant to most diseases and pests. Its
production has been on the increase in Sipili area as most farmers diversify to
fruit farming.

ALIN has strategically focused its
efforts to improve the livelihoods of arid lands communities in East Africa
through delivery of practical information using modern technologies. The
organization has been organizing various capacity building trainings for
Ol-Moran Ward farmers.

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